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As New Year’s Eve approaches, many families are looking forward to hosting parties in celebration of this monumental occasion. Whether it be early evening festivities for the little ones or a fun-filled cocktail party with long-time friends, savoury treats, tasty sweets and a dash of sparkle are essential elements for a memorable event. This New Year’s Eve, avoid a mad dash to the grocery store while preparing for the big night and wow your guests with a New Year's Eve Essentials Kit from Loblaws.

Starting today, you can take advantage of Loblaws Click & Collect New Year’s Eve Entertaining Essentials Kit, a charcuterie board in-a-box designed specifically for New Year’s Eve. Available at select GTA store locations from December 27-31, this kit includes a selection of meats, cheeses, crackers, dried fruit and even a round acacia serving board. There is enough yummy food to serve 6-8 people.

To get your hands on a New Year's Eve Entertaining Essentials Kit, place an order online at Loblaws.ca and enjoy same-day pick up at one of select Loblaws locations in Mississauga, Etobicoke, Richmond Hill, Markham and Toronto. Each kit costs $84.99 and includes the following:

PC Acacia Round Cheese Board

PC La Belle Rivière, Soft Washed-Rind Cheese

PC Craquelins Focaccia, Huile D'olive

PC Rustico Salami

PC black label Cranberry & Fennel Artisan Crisps

PC Canadian White Cheddar, Aged 2 Years

PC Smoked 2 Year Old Cheddar

PC Olive Tapenade Hummus Log

PC Prosciutto

PC black label Apricots, Dried

Take it from a professional procrastinator: nothing beats time-saving solutions such as this convenient Loblaws Click & Collect New Years Eve kit. But don't delay because quantities are limited. Order online today by selecting your nearest Loblaws pickup location and select a pickup time. When you arrive at your selected location during your chosen time slot, simply park in one of the dedicated Click & Collect parking spots and call to let them know you have arrived. And be sure to link up your PC Plus account with your Click & Collect account, too.

*Products may differ slightly from what is shown.

Disclosure: I am participating in the #LoblawsNYE campaign and have received special perks. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Year after year, Hallmark Canada continues to hit the mark with some of the cutest and most festive gift ideas, decorations, greeting cards and gift wrap. This year is no exception. They have also launched their brand new Hallmark Holiday site full of fabulous gift ideas and inspirational videos showcasing recipe ideas and gift wrapping tips and tricks. Here I share with you my top picks this holiday season and special little giveaway, too!

At the top of my list of Hallmark Holiday 2016 favourites is their Smiling Snowman Flannel Throw Blanket. This super cozy blanket features a smiling snowman, a cardinal and a fox in a snowy forest. Did I mention it's incredibly soft? It is an affordable gift idea that retails for only $24.95 so I suggest you pick up two of them before they're all gone. Trust me, you'll want one all to yourself!

Next up is the cutest stuffed animal I have ever seen - Frosty Friends Shivering Polar Bear. Whenever you rub noses with this plush, it shivers and makes the cutest little sounds. My daughter can't get enough of it! It currently retails for $29.95. For the toddler on your list, pick up an itty bittys Frosty the Snowman Stuffed Animal and Storybook Set. The book is a rhymed retelling of the classic holiday TV special and includes an exclusive itty bitty. Plus, it's a steal of a deal at only $6.95 for the set.

My son's favourite ornament this year is the itty bittys Star Wars: The Force Awakens BB-8 Ornament. I personally love the Red Poinsettia Glass Ball Ornament from the Heritage Collection. The Coffee Signature Ornament is also a great teacher gift idea. Most ornaments range in price from $6.95 for the itty bittys up to $24.95 for the large glass ball ornament.

But my ultimate favourite this year is their Wonder-Folds White Christmas Tree Cards. These intricately designed 3-D cards include a tag that reads Merry Christmas and has room on the back to write who it's for and from. This set retails for $19.99 for a set of five.

Win a Peanuts Holidays Through the Year Book!

To help celebrate the holidays, Hallmark is giving away a Peanuts Holidays Through the Year Book, valued at $14.95, that features Charlie Brown and the gang in five classic Peanuts stories about the holidays, from Valentine's Day through Christmas. To be eligible to win, please complete the Rafflecopter form below. Open to residents of Canada only, excluding Quebec.

As a child, counting down to Christmas was a surefire way to brighten our spirits once the weather turned cold. Sometimes the countdown would end sooner than usual if we had a family vacation down south to look forward to. Whether we spent the holidays at home with the family or abroad on the beach, holiday smiles were pretty much a guarantee. Today, as a mother of two, I realize how much I had taken that all for granted. For the first time, we will be spending time in the hospital visiting with my mother-in-law who recently slipped and broke her leg. This was devastating news for my youngest, who wanted desperately to see her but was hit hard by the stomach flu. It was a difficult reminder that life isn't always easy; that illness and injury can take us all by surprise.

For thousands of children and their families, the holidays will be spent in Canadian hospitals. But because Duracell believes in powering the imagination of sick children by helping to ensure kids can still be kids, they can still enjoy the magic of the season. For the 10th consecutive year, Duracell is donating a year supply of batteries to hospital playrooms across the country. The goal: to power smiles and imagination this holiday season and beyond. Knowing that a new working toy or game can help make a child's hospital stay a little brighter, Brampton singer Alessia Cara joined Duracell, who donated $180,000 to SickKids in her name, to promote their Powering Smiles campaign. In addition, Duracell, in partnership with Hasbro, also delivered a shipment of toys, along with the batteries to power them. Among these toys was the new Furby Connect.

In our home, Furby has been bringing smiles to my kids for the past four years. It first started with the original Furby and then the family expanded with a Furby Boom. For each one, we always made sure to use Duracell batteries. This year, we are thrilled to welcome Furby Connect to the family. My favourite features are his moving ears and his colourful eyes that display more than 150 animations to help express what Furby wants. You can pet him, tickle him, shake him, or turn him upside down. Furby reacts each time! Plus, when Furby Connect syncs with the Furby Connect World app, there are more physical and digital ways to interact and more surprises to discover, making this a great gift idea for the holidays. And don't forget to power Furby Connect with Duracell batteries since Duracell makes the magic of the holidays last longer.

Join the Powering Smiles Campaign

For every pack of Duracell batteries sold at Walmart in December 2016, Duracell will donate to Children’s Miracle Network. Now only will you avoid a child's disappointment in receiving a battery-operated toy that is powerless, you will also help make a child’s hospital stay a little brighter. Join the Powering Smiles Campaign and help them reach this year's goal to raise $150,000.

To find out more on how you can support Children's Miracle Network hospitals to power imagination of kids throughout the holidays, visit Duracell.com/cmn.

Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by Duracell. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

For many, the holidays are a time of great joy; a time to celebrate and reconnect with loved ones. Our homes are filled with festive decor and holiday music echoes throughout shopping malls. Children count down the days as they wait in eager anticipation of presents and stockings brimming with treats. But for some, the holidays are a reminder of a certain void in their lives, one that is not always easy to fill.

Fortunately, Hyundai Canada has partnered with Big Brother Big Sisters Toronto, a child and youth mentoring charity, to spread some much needed cheer this holiday season to provide extremely deserving children an opportunity to experience a truly personalized visit from the big man in red and his trusty elves.

Watch the video below captured on one enchanted day as Santa arrives in his brand new Santa Fe Sleigh to personally deliver a gift wish list item to each of the children from Big Brothers Big Sisters. His one-of-a-kind sleigh, fully equipped with a reindeer and wooden sleigh on the roof rack, played a crucial role in transporting Santa safely from point A to point B while fulfilling his mission to provide Holiday cheer.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Hyundai Canada. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

If there is one aspect about the holidays that I find most delightful, it is reuniting with family and friends, both old and new, as we celebrate the season with scrumptious food, festive ambiance and joyful merriment. While my husband takes care of most of the cooking, it can become a little overwhelming when preparing a dinner for a large party. Me, I like to make things as simple as possible. That is why a potluck dinner is right up my alley. Last week, I was invited to a Walmart #FreshPotluck dinner hosted by the lovely Lena of Listen to Lena and of course, I jumped right in by offering to prepare a simple potato salad recipe.

As our main dish, we enjoyed rotisserie chicken available at Walmart Supercentres. This is the perfect solution for a last minute dinner or for those who are as "culinarily challenged" as a I am. As a side dish, Lena prepared an incredibly tasty cranberry pear and bacon stuffing. Now, I don't eat stuffing because I have never liked stuffing. And I mean, never. But Lena has turned me into a convert with this delectable recipe. I can still smell the wonderful blend of sweet and savoury that filled her kitchen.

Also on the menu was a warm green bean and mushroom casserole prepared by the talented Christine of Amidst the Chaos. This recipe is sure to be a favourite this holiday season.

We also enjoyed a black eyed peas and rice salad courtesy of Solmaz from The Curious Creature. This refreshing dish was packed with healthy goodness that included green onion and bell peppers that added the perfect hint of seasonal colours. All of these amazing side dishes made for a delicious #FreshPotluck not soon forgotten.

If you are in a pinch for a quick side dish for your next potluck, try this super simple potato salad recipe. It is one of my go-to recipes, especially when paired with a chicken main.

Olive Oil and Oregano Potato Salad

Ingredients:

Directions:

Place the potatoes into a pot of cold salted water ensuring they are fully submerged. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook until tender. Drain the potatoes and cool under cold running water. Cut into cubes.

In a large mixing bowl, dress the potatoes with olive oil and lemon juice. Add oregano and season with salt and pepper. Gently toss the salad until evenly dressed.

And don't forget, when you're picking up your fresh ingredients at Walmart, throw in a tiramisu panettone (or two) into your shopping cart. Serve it as dessert at your next dinner or bring it along as a hostess gift.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Walmart Canada, as part of the #FreshPotluck program. In exchange for this review, I have received special perks in the form of products and/or compensation. All opinions on this blog are my own.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But two weeks off work is delightful,
And if you've no place to go,
Toronto! Toronto! Toronto!

The final week of school is upon us and I couldn't be more thrilled. While I still have plenty to do before Christmas Day, I am really looking forward to having two weeks home with the kids after Christmas. For the first time, I won't have the stress of finding the perfect gift for everyone on my shopping list while on break, which means two whole weeks to enjoy with the family. And lucky for us, we live in one of the best cities for family fun - Toronto! At the top of our list is a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum.

ROM for the Holidays Features 14 Days of Family Fun

For those who are planning a visit to Toronto, and Torontonians alike, a trip to the ROM is a great way to celebrate the holidays. This season, the ROM comes alive with family-friendly activities as part of a CHIHULY-inspired ROM for the Holidays taking place from Monday, December 26, 2016, to Sunday, January 8, 2017. Escape to a winter wonderland and marvel at glowing lights, festive traditions and exclusive gallery activations. Take advantage of extended hours of operation and programming, check out Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition featuring 100 striking wildlife and landscape images, and visit the spectacular CHIHULY exhibition before it comes to a close.

Additional opportunities for family fun during ROM for the Holidays include:

Explore how fire and ice shape our natural world with touchable objects from our collections—from volcanic glass to a polar bear skull!

See incredible “glass” fossils of creatures that lived in the seas long before the dinosaurs, and learn how they reveal their prehistoric secrets

Sail into the icy heart of a historical mystery: what happened to HMS Erebus in the cold Arctic waters?

Relax at the ROM Early Learner’s Lounge - a quiet space for families to play and rest

Indulge in the exclusive Rotunda Coffee Bar, located in the ROM’s historic Queen’s Park Rotunda

Challenge family and friends with video games inspired by the ROM’s collections

Jam with Sonshine and Broccoli’s interactive and fun-filled musical shows for all ages

Decorate a holiday tree with origami creations, creatures, and crystals

Plus, become a ROM Member and enjoy express entry, unlimited free access to exhibitions and galleries, exclusive previews, members-only discounts, and much more. Until December 31, save $20 on a Family/Dual Membership for up to two named adults and four kids under 17. Visit rom.on.ca/membership and enter the promo code HOLIDAY. This would also make a great last minute gift idea. Treat friends and family to a ROM Membership by visiting rom.on.ca/membership.

Enter to Win a ROM Family Membership

To help celebrate the season, one lucky family will win a ROM Family Membership valued at $149! The membership is valid for a year and allows you to enjoy free admission, discounts on shopping and dining, and exclusive events. For a chance to win, leave a comment on this post sharing why you would like to win and complete the Rafflecopter form below.

Today, the Official Google Canada Blog released the top Google search trends for 2016. Among them were top trending celebrity babies, such as Prince George, Canadian politicians, such as Toronto's Rob Ford, and musicians, a list topped by another Torontonian, the one and only Drake. Below you will find some of these lists which are included on the Google Trends page. But what I really wanted to share with you is Google's global "Year In Search 2016" YouTube video that so succinctly and beautifully summarizes an unforgettable year, filled with many highs and oh, so many lows. And yet, the message rings out loud and clear; that, despite being bombarded by news reports of hatred, terrorism, discrimination and scandal, love is out there. And that, my friends, gives me hope for a brighter 2017. Search on.

Last month, I received a special invitation to join the WE Families Ambassador Program and share tips and tools with families across Canada who want to make a difference. With the goal of providing parents with the support they need to raise caring and compassionate children, the WE Movement is empowering families to Live WE at Home.

It comes as no surprise that small actions can make a big difference in the lives of today's youth. By volunteering in the community and rallying around causes they care about, young people can build stronger relationships, self-esteem and a renewed sense of purpose. I've seen it with my students and I see it with my nephew who has been volunteering in his local community for many years and, after his first WE Day experience, is inspired now more than ever to be the change.

This December, consider living WE at Home and joining the WE Families program. Visit WE.org to take the WE Pledge and click "Live WE at Home" to find resources and information on how you can get started with everyday actions. Purchase a WE Families Kit to receive 25 ideas for fun activities to enjoy with the family. The kit costs $20 but is jam packed with unique ME to WE products with a retail value of $75, including rafiki bracelets, a notebook and gratitude cards.

Together we can help raise more compassionate kids.

Disclosure: I am participating in the WE Families Ambassador program and receive special perks. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

About me

Diana is a mother of two children and works as an elementary French teacher in Toronto, Ontario. Launched in 2006, her blog Toronto Teacher Mom features articles on her family's adventures as well as reviews on the latest and greatest. When she isn't busy blogging, cleaning or playing with the kids, you can find her standing on her head, riding a bike or sharing crafts on dianasdesigns.ca.